Special thanks to the Shumaker Family Foundation for generous support of this workshop series.

The seminars on Rapid Response, AniCare Adult/Child and “The Link” review the dynamics of animal abuse and how it may be relevant to your clients and their families. In most child abuse cases, domestic violence, school bullying or elder abuse, one seldom has to look far to find a component that involves animals being abused as well.

Because cruelty to animals can potentially begin a cycle of violence that affects both animals and people, it is important for everyone to be aware of this piece of the picture. Including basic questions in home visits or interviews about companion animals and how they are treated by family members could provide valuable insight about the welfare of children as well as the animals.

Along with a general understanding of “The Link” between animal abuse and domestic violence, this training will provide overviews of Kansas and Missouri animal cruelty laws, why it is important to report animal abuse as soon as possible, and what resources are available. The training includes an experiential learning workshop about AniCare Adult, and AniCare Child, as specialized approaches to assessment and treatment for juveniles and adults who abuse animals.

This information will give professionals in the fields of animal control, law enforcement, criminal justice, social work, and animal welfare the tools they need to know how to identify animal cruelty and concerns related to abusive behavior, what questions to ask, who to call to report any concern about animal abuse, and where to find resources for appropriate counseling or probation recommendations.

Instructors:Phil Arkow, internationally acclaimed lecturer, author and educator Phil Arkow is coordinator of the National Link Coalition and a consultant for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animals & Society Institute. He also chairs the Latham Foundation’s Animal Abuse and Family Violence Prevention Project.

Maya Gupta, PhD and Nancy Bell, PhD, have been involved in social services for over 20 years. They are certified trainers for the AniCare Approach, an empathy-based intervention developed by the Animals and Society Institute (ASI). Their professional expertise includes: social services, domestic violence, mental health practice, law enforcement, government, the judicial system, attorneys, emergency first responders, relevant community groups and animal welfare.

This training is coordinated by the KC-CAN LINK Coalition (Caring for ALL Network) and cosponsored by ASI, Gillis Center, Great Plains SPCA, Heartland Positive Training Alliance, and The National LINK Coalition.

Register now!
(A special thanks to Heartland Positive Dog Training Alliance for hosting the registration link on their website for the KC-CAN LINK Coalition)